The Memorial
This memorial remembers the 750+ African American men and women buried in the segregated sections of the cemeteries. The multi-faceted monument includes:
A donor area
Eight story panels to learn more and read stories about the individuals
Fourteen granite boulders line the trail -- including one honoring those "Known Only To God."
A large, striking, beautifully engraved granite panel to forever honor their name and the legacy of their life
We hope it will be a place for all to come, reflect, learn, and respect the African American souls laid to rest here.
“The purpose of the African American Legacy Memorial in Fairview Cemetery is to honor and respect the Black lives who are buried in the hallowed ground of this sacred space, and to celebrate the Bicentennial of Missouri’s statehood. We are rewriting the history books with this memorial that will help bring about reconciliation among our residents. Whether among those who were enslaved or free, the African Americans buried in unmarked graves of Fairview and New Hope are a testimony to a community of resilient people with character and principles who made significant contributions to Liberty and Clay County.”
— Dr. Cecelia Robinson, Clay County African American Historian
Design by Steve Rhoades and Vireo.
Memorial Design
The Legacy Memorial includes 15 bollards to mark the perimeter of the 6-acre burial ground, showing the magnitude of the space. The walkway and benches lend a sense of community and presence while extending an invitation to visitors to linger and reflect. Along the path, you'll enjoy engraved stones featuring stories, poems, and spiritual or creative works that highlight the resilient spirit of the African American people. At the end of the 175' walkway is a rectangular area containing the memorial with the 750+ names engraved into granite, forever honoring their lives and legacies. Interpretive panels on the path will encourage visitors to learn more about the Black history of Liberty and the individuals buried in this land.
Descendants Speak
“The Liberty African American Memorial Project is important to me. Knowing that 500 and up to 1,000 or more unmarked African American graves are in Fairview, the sheer numbers reveal how integral this disenfranchised group of citizens were to the fabric and development of the Liberty Community. Preliminary observations of the Liberty census numbers from the latter half of the 19th and early 20th century, when compared with the number of unmarked graves of African Americans in both Fairview and New Hope Cemeteries, point out that more than one-third of Liberty citizens were of African American descent, despite being kept nameless from cradle to grave; this community of men, women, and children, contributed so much to the City of Liberty.”
— AJ Bird
“Let us not forget those who were part of the Black community that did not have the privileges that African Americans have today. A monument honoring those who contributed to Clay County's history is the least of what should be done for those who had to endure the racial injustices during their lifetime. To put it simply, it is the right thing to do for this community. “
— Ruth Emery
“I am a steward of history and the preservation of information pertaining to not only my ancestors, but also the many who are interred in the cemetery. Though there are a great number of burial plots without identification or visible headstones/markers (for many reasons), it is my obligation to recognize those individuals and preserve their final resting place. It is a moral endeavor. For the present generation and forthcoming generations (whether descendants or not). Erecting a memorial is as fitting as any other in the country. Bringing the idea to fruition will bring attention to another chapter in the illustrious history of Clay County, which enhances all of us.”
— Shelton E. Ponder
“The African American Legacy Memorial will be a beautiful way to honor the families that called Liberty and Clay County home. Some of my ancestors were buried in the cemetery 70 to 100 years ago. Their memory will be kept alive forever through this symbol of remembrance.”
— Eileen Houston Stewart
“Most African Americans in Liberty do not know of the unmarked graves in Fairview, so they only visit the gravesites they know are marked. People should be able to recognize and honor family members on Memorial Day and other holidays. If you know who is buried there, you can honor them by placing a wreath or flowers at the memorial site.”
— Jerry Lewis
"I support this memorial project. One cannot honor the present without honoring the past. Without the past there is no present nor future. Liberty would not be the vital city it is today without the labor of enslaved Blacks who helped build this community.”
— Charles Lee
“They were human beings just like we are and they should be recognized with a monument. Those people were part of the history of Clay County that is hard to talk about. So why not give those people the honor they deserve for their contribution to this county.”
— Rosa Mae Patterson